Slide holder method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for holding together a slide assembly composed of a slide, a slide preparation on a top surface thereof, and a cover slip overlying the slide preparation. The preferred slide holder of the present invention employs a base, a slide support mounted thereon, and a plurality of spring arms mounted on the base and biased toward the slide support. In operation, a spring arm is manually lifted up, a slide assembly is placed between the raised spring arm and the sling support, and then the spring arm is allowed to come down on top of the cover slip, firmly holding the slide assembly together.

[ 1 June 6,1972

[54] SLIDE HOLDER METHOD AND APPARATUS Frank David Kurtz, 398 Five Points Road, Honeoye Falls, NY. 14472 22 Filed: Oct.29, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 85,000

[72] Inventor:

2,761,558 9/1956 McLean ..350/92X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 810,479 3/1959 Great Britain .350/92 Primary \'aminer--Donald A. Grifiin AttorneySchovee & Boston [57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for holding together a slide assembly composed of a slide, a slide preparation on a top surface thereof, and a cover slip overlying the slide preparation. The preferred slide holder of the present invention employs a base, a slide support mounted thereon, and a plurality of spring arms mounted on the base and biased toward the slide support. In operation, a spring am is manually lifted up, a slide assembly is placed between the raised spring arm and the sling support, and then the spring arm is allowed to come down on top of the cover slip, firmly holding the slide assembly together,

1 Claim, 3 Drawing figures PATENTEDJUN 6 I972 3. 667, 088

INVENTOR. FRANK DAVID KURTZ ATTORNEYS SLIDE HOLDER METHOD AND APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to slides used in microscopy, and in particular to a method and apparatus for holding together slide assemblies.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, when an attempt was made to hold a cover slip onto a slide over a slide preparation, a weight such as that used by fishermen was placed on top of the cover slip. Such a method is not satisfactory because, for example, the weight can easily roll off when the slide assembly is moved and when the slide assembly is held at any position other than horizontal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention basically provides a method and apparatus for firmly clamping a slide assembly together. In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by means of a base on which are mounted aslide support and a plurality of spring arms biased toward the slide support. The spring arms can be individually lifted up so that a slide assembly can be positioned on the slide support directly below the raised spring arm. The spring arm is then allowed to return toward the slide support where it comes down on top of the cover slip. A plurality of slide assemblies can be held on the single base, one below each spring arm. The slide assemblies so held can then be easily and conveniently moved from one location to the other in preparing them for use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the preferred apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along lines 3-3 thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 show a slide holder of the present invention. The slide holder 10 comprises a base 12, a pair of slide supports 14 and 16, and a plurality of spring arms 18-29. This apparatus can easily and conveniently hold together 12 separate slide assemblies, such as slide assembly 30 comprising a slide 32, a slide preparation 34 thereon, and a cover slip 36.

The base 12 is simply a metal rod formed into a hollow square shape. Each of the slide supports 14 and 16 comprises a pair of parallel, spaced-apart rods 38 and 40, and 42 and 44, respectively, affixed to the base 12 by clamp means (not shown). This distance separating each rod in the two pair of rods 38 and 40, and 42 and 44, is less than the length of the slide 32, whereby the slide 32 can be placed across and supported by the two rods 42 and 44, for example, as shown in FIG. 1.

The spring arms 18-29 are mounted on the base 12 by means of a lower and an upper support bar 46 and 48, respectively, connected together by rivets 50-53. The lower support bar 46 is provided with a plurality of transverse grooves (see groove 55 in FIG. 3. for example) in the upper surface thereof that contacts the upper support bar 48. Each of the spring arms 18-29, as well as a pair of opposite sides 57 and 59 of the base 12, are positioned in a corresponding groove in the lower support bar and then the upper bar 48 is riveted to the lower bar 46, to firmly hold the various elements together. A quantity of glue can be applied to each element and groove if desired.

Each pair of opposite spring arms, for example, the pair consisting of spring arms 18 and 24, are preferably formed from a single length of flexible metal rod. As will be seen from FIG. 1, each of the spring arms 18-29 are identical. A description of only one spring arm, for example, spring arm 18, will therefore be sufficient. The spring arm 18 terminates in a cover slip holding member 60 comprising a short,terminal length of the spring arm 18. The cover slip holding member 60 is parallel to the plane of the slide support 16, to spread the pressure of the spring arm 18 on the cover slip 36. The length of the spring arm 18 is preferably such as to position the cover slip holding member 60 midway between the two rods 42 and 44. The position of the slide assembly 30 is preferably adjusted so that the holding member 60 is centrally located on the cover slip 36. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the rest" position of the spring arm 18 (as well as of all of the spring arms 18-29) is such that the cover slip holding member 60 is positioned below the plane of the slide support 16 (Le. member 60 is positioned on the opposite sideof the slide support 16 from that side on which the slide 32 is to be placed). In this way, the spring arm 18 exerts a biasing force down on the cover slip 36, thus firmly holding together the slide assembly In operation, the slide assembly 30 is prepared in any usual manner, as will be readily understood by one skilled inthe art. The slide assembly 30 is then inserted into the slide holder 10 by bringing the thumb of one hand up against a portion 62 of the spring arm,and then manually lifting up the spring arm 18. In this way, the hands never touch the holding member 60 thus maintaining cleanliness of the cover slip. The slide 32 is then placed across the two rods 42 and 44 and the spring arm 18 is allowed to return toward its rest" position, until the holding member 60 contacts the cover'slip 36.

It will be seen that the spring arm 18 causes the cover slip holding member 60 to exert its pressure substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cover slip 36.

While the present invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other structural arrangements can also be employed. The present invention basically comprises firmly clamping a cover slip onto a slide between two, connected, holding elements. While spring bias means are preferred to exert a clamping force between the two elements, other means can be used such as mechanical clamps and weighted holding elements. Further, when using a'spring bias, either one or both of the holding elements can be spring biased. The holding member itself that contacts the slide assembly can be the holding element itself, as in the preferred embodiment, or it can be a separate member, having a large and/or resilient surface to spread the force and to guard against'accidental breakage of the slide and the cover slip. The two connected holding elements can be mounted on a base or not. If not, one of the holding elements can be formed to provide a handle for holding the slide holder. Means for adjusting the spring bias can be employed, if desired.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A slide assembly holder for holding a cover slip onto a slide with a slide preparation therebetween, comprising:

a. a slide support for supporting a slide;

b. a holding member connected to said slide support for holding a cover slip onto a slide positioned between said slide support and holding member;

c. means for clamping said holding member and said slide support together;

a base; and

e. means connecting said slide support to said base, wherein said base comprises a rod formed into a hollow square; said slide support includes two pairs of parallel, spacedapart rods, each pair of rods being parallel to each other and being positioned adjacent opposite sides of said positioned between two rods of a pair of rods, and mounting means connected to said base for supporting said spring arms, said mounting means being positioned parallel to said rods in said two pairs of rods and midway between said opposite sides of said square. 

1. A slide assembly holder for holding a cover slip onto a slide with a slide preparation therebetween, comprising: a. a slide support for supporting a slide; b. a holding member connected to said slide support for holding a cover slip onto a slide positioned between said slide support and holding member; c. means for clamping said holding member and said slide support together; d. a base; and e. means connecting said slide support to said base, wherein said base comprises a rod formed into a hollow square; said slide support includes two pairs of parallel, spaced-apart rods, each pair of rods being parallel to each other and being positioned adjacent opposite sides of said square, the rods in each pair being spaced apart a distance less than the length of a slide; said clamping means comprises a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart spring arms, positioned normal to said rods in said two pairs of rods, each of said spring arms terminating in a holding member, each of said holding members being positioned between two rods of a pair of rods, and mounting means connected to said base for supporting said spring arms, said mounting means being positioned parallel to said rods in said two pairs of rods and midway between said opposite sides of said square. 